U.S. Dressage Team Sits Second after Grand Prix at CDIO5* Rotterdam

U.S. Dressage Team Sits Second after Grand Prix at CDIO5* Rotterdam

Friday, June 24, 2016

Placing second overall in the Grand Prix were Laura Graves (Geneva, FL.) and her own Verdades on a score of 76.300%. Photo by Mary Phelps

Rotterdam, The Netherlands – The U.S. Dressage Team of Shelly Francis, Laura Graves, Kasey Perry-Glass, and Steffen Peters got off to a strong start in Nations Cup competition in Rotterdam Thursday. With strong performances from all members of the team, the U.S. sits in second on 226.92, behind the home team of The Netherlands, who lead on a total of 231.58. Thursday’s Grand Prix was the first of two days of Nations Cup competition; the event concludes on Saturday with two members of each team competing in the Grand Prix Special and two members in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, the U.S. Team drew second in the order of seven teams and began the day under rainy skies that eventually let way to sunshine.

CDI3* competition will begin with the Grand Prix on Friday, when the U.S. will represented by Allison Brock and Rosevelt, Francis and Danilo, Arlene “Tuny” Page and Woodstock, and Peters and Rosamunde.

The CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle can be watched live on FEITV.org. For further livestream information, visit chio.nl/live.

Rotterdam is the last of three designated observation events as part of the selection process for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team. Further information regarding the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team selection process can be found on USEF.org. All nominations to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

The U.S. will also be represented at CHIO Rotterdam by the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition. This competition will serve as the final of four designated observation events for determining the 2016 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team.